| Although CSS layouts have been around for years, | | | | can increase the sales/conversion rate by 100% |
| they haven't become so commonplace until recently. | | | | (source: downloads faster than tables because:- |
| This was basically due to limited browser support | | | | Browsers read through tables twice before displaying |
| (especially from Netscape 4) - nowadays though, | | | | their contents, once to work out their structure and |
| CSS 2.0 (which introduced positioning) is compatible | | | | once to determine their content- Tables appear on |
| with over 99% of browsers out there (check out | | | | the screen all in one go - no part of the table will |
| the browser stats over at why should you convert | | | | appear until the entire table is downloaded and |
| your website from its current table-based layout to a | | | | rendered- Tables encourage the use of spacer |
| CSS layout? It'll make you money. Simple really. And | | | | images to aid with positioning- CSS generally requires |
| here's four reasons to explain why:Reduced | | | | less code than cumbersome tables- All code to do |
| bandwidth costsWeb pages using CSS for layout | | | | with the layout can be placed in an external CSS |
| tend to have much smaller file sizes than those using | | | | document, which will be called up just once and then |
| tabular layouts. It's not unusual to see reductions of | | | | cached (stored) on the user's computer; table layout, |
| 50% or more in file size when switching from CSS to | | | | stored in each HTML document, must be loaded up |
| tables. Smaller file sizes obviously mean reduced | | | | each time a new page downloads- With CSS you can |
| bandwidth costs, which for high traffic sites can | | | | control the order items download on to the screen - |
| mean enormous savings.The main reason for this | | | | make the content appear before slow-loading images |
| dramatic decrease in file size is that presentation | | | | and your site users will definitely appreciate itIncrease |
| information is placed in the external CSS document, | | | | in reachThe more people you can reach, the more |
| called up once when the homepage loads up and | | | | visitors you'll get to your site and the more enquiries |
| then cached (stored) on to the user's computer. | | | | or sales you should get. A CSS-based website is |
| Table layouts on the other hand, place all | | | | compatible with PDAs, mobile phones, in-car browsers |
| presentation information inside each HTML, which is | | | | and WebTV. Don't underestimate the importance of |
| then called up and downloaded for every page on | | | | this: In 2008 alone an estimated 58 million PDAs will |
| the site.Additionally, CSS can be used to replace | | | | be sold (source: and one third of the world's |
| JavaScript image rollovers, again allowing a large | | | | population will own a wireless device (source: can |
| reduction in overall page size. See the article, CSS | | | | make an additional CSS document specifically for |
| navigation menu for more on this ( higher search | | | | handheld devices, which will be called up in place of |
| engine rankingA CSS-based website will appear higher | | | | the regular CSS document, thereby ensuring your |
| in the search engine rankings for three reasons:- The | | | | website is accessible to this lucrative market. This |
| code is cleaner and therefore more accessible to | | | | isn't possible with a tabular layout.Conclusion: Switch |
| search engines- Important content can be placed at | | | | to CSS!Switching your website from a table layout to |
| the top of the HTML document- There is a greater | | | | a CSS layout can be a long, arduous process, |
| density of content compared to codingA higher | | | | especially for large websites. Given the money |
| search engine ranking means more site visitors, | | | | making possibilities though, it could very well prove to |
| which, provided your website is usable, should lead to | | | | be well worth it.This article was written by Trenton |
| an increase in enquiries or sales.Faster download | | | | Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility |
| speedA faster download speed will make you | | | | - so crazy that he went and started his own web |
| money? Well, yes. Slow download speed is often | | | | usability and accessibility consultancy ( Webcredible - ) |
| cited as one of the biggest usability complaints for | | | | to help make the Internet a better place for |
| websites. A faster download speed therefore leads | | | | everyone. They offer fantastic accessibility & CSS |
| to increased usability, and a web usability redesign | | | | support packages, which you can read all about at . |